Mercedes Lane New Build Brief
BRIEF
Situated on 2.5 acres just outside of Ann Arbor, this 2000 sq ft home was designed and built to exacting standards with modern sustainability and age-in-place accessibility at the forefront.
The kitchen, dining and living spaces are at the core of the home, with an office neatly tucked behind the kitchen. The primary bedroom suite is located at the end of the main circulation axis. Each living space, including the primary suite, is accessible on the main floor, while the second floor provides two guest rooms, a guest bath, and an oversized landing, serving as a sitting room.
The floor to ceiling south facing windows capture the warmth of the winter sun, heating the insulated concrete floor for passive solar gain. During the summer, the overhangs shield the home’s interior from the harshest sunlight of the day, keeping the house cool without sacrificing natural lighting. The first story is blanketed with solar panels, capturing energy to be stored inside a battery room off the garage.
In addition to its sustainability and accessibility, this home offers expansive indoor-outdoor living spaces. On the south side of the home, large French doors leading to a south facing terrace and garden are perfect for hosting family and friends. A generously covered front porch on the east side of the home welcomes guests, while the north and west entrances lead out to their expansive wooded lot with native Michigan foliage.